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Show 146 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON REPTILES AND [Feb. 15, 2. On a Collection of Reptiles and Batrachians made by Mr. H. Pryer in the Loo Choo Islands. By G. A. BOULENGER, F.Z.S. [Eeceived January 28, 1887.] (Plates XVII. & XVIII.) Our Corresponding Member Mr. II. Pryer has presented to the British Museum an important series of Reptiles and Batrachians, formed by him during a recent visit to the Loo Choo Islands. This being the first herpetological collection from that group of islands that has reached Europe, its interest in exceptionally great. The North- Pacific Exploring Expedition, under Capt. J. Rogers, U.S.N., visited the Loo Choo Islands in 1854-55, and a collection of Reptiles was made, upon which Hallowed reported (Proc. Acad. Philad. I860, p. 490 et seq.). Unfortunately, owing to the imperfection of his descriptions, little more than a score of new names was gained by that author's contribution. Now that actual specimens are at hand, identification of most of Hallowell's specimens has become possible ; and it is my pleasant duty to furnish diagnoses of those species together with a list of the others collected by Mr. Pryer, among which are two entirely new. REPTILIA. LACERTILIA. 1. GECKO JAPONICUS, D. & B. 1 Hemidactylus marmoratus, Hallow. 1. c. p. 491. 1 Hemidactylus inornatus, Hallow. I. c. p. 492. 2. PTYCHOZOON HOMALOCEPHALUM, Crev. The unique specimen in the collection, a male, though in other respects agreeing with the Indo-Malayau specimens, is remarkable for having only eight praeanal pores. 3. JAPALURA POLYGONATA, Hallow. (Plate XVII. fig. 1.) Diploderma polygonatum, Hallow. /. c. p. 490. As was to be expected, this species is closely allied to J. swinhonis, Gthr. It differs in having the tibia constantly shorter than the skull, fewer labials as a rule, and in coloration. The number of upper and of lower labials is six or seven, very rarely eight. The hind limb, stretched forwards, reaches between the commissure of the mouth and the anterior border of the orbit. Adult yellowish green above, the interspaces between the scales black ; throat and nuchal crest of males bright yellow; females with broad black cross bands on the back ; tail, in both sexes, annulate with black ; young more greyish, with black cross bands on the back. |
